Tupelo to have craft beer festival

TUPELO – Tupelo in March will host a craft beer festival with samples of at least 60 different beers.
The Tupelo Craft Beer Festival is slated for March 2 in Veterans Park.
The announcement comes the year after the state enacted a law increasing the legal limit of alcohol by weight in beer. The law opened the state for more imported and domestic craft beers.
Matt Leff of Nashville-based Rhizome Productions is putting on the event. His resume includes producing beer festivals in Nashville, Chattanooga and Texas.
He said Monday that he’s visited Tupelo several times in the past year and he’s had a very positive response to the idea.
He’s working with local distributors, retailers, restaurants and breweries to have them represented at the Saturday event.
Tickets are $35 online or $40 at the gate. Only adults at least 21 years old are allowed to buy the 1,000 available tickets.
The festival’s website – TupeloCraftBeerFest.com – will go live Friday.
The ticket price includes a glass brandy snifter for tasting and samples of 60 to 80 beers from at least 25 breweries.
Leff said food from Blue Canoe, Neon Pig and Romie’s BBQ will be on sale at the event. Plus, local musicians will be playing.
However, the focus is on beer. Leff said the event will have educational seminars with brewery reps who will discuss the various beers.
He also said his festivals donate a percentage of the net proceeds to a local charity. He plans to do the same with the Tupelo event.
carlie.wells@journalinc.com